System of type-writing telegraphs.



No. 674,469. Patented May 2|, l90l.

F. D. PEARNE.

SYSTEM OF TYPE WRITING TELEGRAPHS.

(Application filed Dec. 11,. 1900.)

(No Model.)

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No. 674,469. Patented May 2|, I901. F. l). PEARNE.

SYSTEM OF TYPE WRITING TELEGBAPHS.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1900*) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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9 I I) /%7%W I Afimgzys- No. 674,469. Patented May 2|, 190i. F. D. PEARNE.

SYSTEM OF TYPE WRITING TELEGRA PHS.

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reference indicate similar parts in the sevcircuits being shown in diagram.

UNTTED STATES PATENT FRANK D. PEARNE, OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA.

SYSTEM OF TYPE-WRlTlNG T ELEGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,469, dated May 2 1, 1901.

' Application filed December 11, 1900. Serial No. 39,577. (No model.)

To (ti/Z 1072 0772, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK D. PEARNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Island, in the county of Hall and State of Nebraska, have invented anew and useful Type- Writing Telegraph, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telegraph systems in general, although the principles involved may beembodied in apparatus for other specific purposes, and it has particular reference to a system wherein by depression of keys at the sending-station corresponding keys will be operated at the receiving-station to print characters'in the form of a message.

One object of the invention is to provide a system wherein the sending-keyboard will be simple in construction and compact in its arrangement and wherein the receiving instrument will comprise a minimum number of parts which will so coact as to quickly close the separate local circuits to operate the keyactuating mechanisms included therein,'further objects of the invention being to so arrange the local circuits as to permit them to be energized by a common battery and relating also to the specific constructions of the separate apparatus, all of which will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like characters of eral views, Figure 1 is a view showing the relays and switch mechanism of the receiving instrument and illustrating also two of the printing devices and also the spacer, the Fig. 2 shows in diagram a portion of the keyboard at the sending-station and the connections for sending currents of different intensities over the line. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of the main-switch-operating mechanism, through the medium of which the local circuits are closed to actuate the type-bars.

Referring now to the drawings, at the receiving-station there is arranged a main relay or electrically-operated switch which includes thirty-six contact-points, and each of these contact-points corresponds to and is electrically connected with the electromagnet that operates one of the type-bars of a typewriter with which the message is written. In the present instance there are shown two type-magnets 5 and 6, having pivoted arma tures 7 and 8, which are connected with the type-bars 9 and 10, and it is the object of this main relay to connect the several type-magnets in circuit with a common local battery 11 to energize the magnets and cause them to operate the type-bars. The magnets 5 and 6 in the present instance are electrically connected with the two points 106 and 13, and connected individually in series with the magnets 5 and 6, at the opposite side thereof from the contact-points, is a third magnet, 14, which is connected with the spacer of the typewriter, so that as each of the bar-magnets is energized the spacermagnet will be energized to operate the spacer after a type has struck.

The thirty-six contacts of the switchboard are arranged in three lines with twelve contacts to'a line, and cooperating with these contact-points are four contact-fingers 15, 16, 17, and 18, and each of these lingers is adapted to make contact with nine of the contact-pointsincluded in three columns of three contacts each. The four contact-fingers are mounted on a common supporting-bar 19, of insulating material, and this bar is adapted to be shifted so as to contact the fingers with Y their several contact-points. fingers is engaged with one of its contactpoints in each position of the shifting bar; but all of the fingers are not simultaneously connected in circuit with the local battery. On the other hand, they are individually connected successively in circuit with the common local battery through the medium of two relays, each of the relays havinga contactpoint for each of its pairs of fingers. The contact-fingers normally lie in contact with the middle or central contacts of their respective groups of nine contact-points, as shown in Fig. l, and to engage them with the other contacts it is necessary to move the fingers either longitudinally in one direction or the other or laterally in one direction or the other, or first longitudinally in one direction or the other and then laterally in one direction or the other, all of which will be under- Each of the stood by reference to Fig. 1 and the following description. To thus shift the contactfingers simultaneously into their several positions, two pairs of electromagnets are used, one pair of the magnets including the spools 20 and 21, while the other pair includes two spools 22 and 23, and cooperating with these shifting-magnets there are used two releasing-magnets, (shown at 24 and 25, respectively,) which act to release the armatures of the shifting-magnets, which directly actuate the shifting means after an actuating-current for a type-bar magnet has been sent through a finger. The four contact-fingers are connected in pairs with the contacts of two relays, the elements of each pair being connected with contacts at opposite sides of the armature of its respective relay, and after the fingers have been shifted one of these relays is operated to send a current from the local battery through a corresponding finger.

In Figs. 1 and 3 the main relay or switch has its bar connected with a rod 26, which is slidably mounted in the arms of a yoke 27, the stem 28 of which is rotatably mounted in a plate 29, and between the bar 19 and the adjacent arm of the yoke is disposed a helical spring 30, encircling the bar or rod 26, and opposing this spring 30 a second helical spring, 31, is disposed, encircling the opposite end of the rod between the opposite arm of the yoke and a nut 32, engaged with the rod. Between the spools 20 and 21 there is pivoted a softiron armature 33, which projects beyond the spools and has its outer end slotted, as shown at 34 in Fig. 3, and engaged with the end of the rod 26 against the nut 32, said armature being held from withdrawal from the end of the rod 26 by means ofasecond nut, 34', on the extrenr ity of the bar. This arrangement permits of reciprocation of the Dal-26 when the armature 33 is vibrated without binding of the parts. The movement of the armature 33 is such as to carry the contact-fingers from the central transverse lineof contact-points of the switchboard to either the upper transverse line or the lower transverse line, depending upon the direction of movement of the armature from its normal position. To hold the bar 26 with the contact-fingers in either of these extreme positions, a locking-armatu re 35 is provided for the magnet 24. This armature has in the present instance a spring supporting-piece 36 atone end, which is engaged with a supporting-post 37 and is adapted for movement in a vertical plane. Formed transversely of the upper face of the armature 35 are two spaced slots 38 and 39, which converge in the direction of the pivot of the armature 33, and the spring 36 of armature 35 holds said armature up against the under side of armature 33, with the armature 33 resting normally upon that portion of armature 35 lying between the slots 38 and 39. When the armature 33 is moved in the direction of spool 20, armature 35 rises to receive armature 33 in its slot 38 and hold it against the returning tendency of spring 30 until the magnet 24 is energized, when armature 35 moves down and releases armature 33 and permits it to return to the normal position shown. When armature 33 moves in the direction of spool 21, it is engaged in slot 39 in the same manner and is released by energization of magnet 24 to return to normal under the influence of spring 31.

To shiftthe contact-fingers laterally, an armature 40 is fixed on the stem 28 and lies between the spools 22 and 23, and when in its intermediate position the fingers are in their normal positions. (Shown in Fig. 1;) The armature 40 is of soft iron, and whenattracted to the spool 22 it shifts the bar 19 to the left to correspondingly move the contact-fingers to the left-hand vertical columns of contact-points, and when the armature 40 is moved to the spool 23 the bar 19 is shifted to the right and the contact-fingers are moved to the vertical columns to the right of their normal positions. A locking-armature 41 is provided for the magnet 25 and is supported by a spring-strip 42 at one end, which holds it normally up against the armature 40. Armature 41 has transverse slots 42' and 43 therein, which are spaced and converge in the direction of the axis of the stem of the yoke, and the armature 4O lies normally between these slots. The locking and unlocking action of this armature 41 is the same as that of armature 35, above described. Armature 40 is held yieldalply in its normal position by springs 44, as shown. In Fig. 1 the pole of spool 20 is designated by the letter u, pole of 21 by letter 61, pole of spool 22 by letter Z, and pole of spool 23 by letter 1". These letters signify up, down, left, and right, respectively, corresponding to the movements given to the contact-fingers there by, and by keeping in mind that 21 moves the fingers up, (1 moves them down, Z moves them to the left, and 7* moves them to the right the explanationof operation hereinafter given will be more easily understood.

The releasing-magnets 24 and 25 are connected in series with the spacer-magnet 14 between said magnet and the battery 11, and thus if after the contact-flu ers have been shifted or if while they are in their normal positions the circuit of battery ll be closed through one of the fingers the type-magnet connected with the contact-point with which said finger is in engagementwill be energized to operate its type-bar, and at the same time the spacer-magnet will be energized to move the parts connected therewith to such positions as to permit the carriage to move one space when said spacer-magnet is deenergized to permit return movement of the armature thereof,the s pecific construction of the spacer mechanism being well known to those skilled in the art. At the same time the two magnets 24 and 25 are energized, and if the contact-fingers be in their shifted positions, with the armatures 33 and 40 locked by armatures 35 and 41, they will be permitted to return to their normal positions. If both of the armatures 35 and 41 be not in looking engagement, their energization will have no efiect on the positions of the fingers, and if only one be in locking engagement then that magnet alone will be effective.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings there are shown four relays 45, 46, 47, and 48. The relay 45 closes the local circuit through spools 22 and 23, relay 46 closes the local circuit through spools 20 and 21, relay 47 closes the local circuit through fingers 15 and 16, and relay '48 closes the local circuit through fingers 17 and 18.

Relay 45 comprises two polarized electromagnets 49 and 50, which may be connected in multiple in the main line 51, as shown, or may be connected in series, and between these two magnets is disposed a vibratory armature 52, which is held normally and yieldably in a position mid way of the magnets by opposing springs 52 and 53, connected therewith. At opposite sides of the armature 52 are disposed contacts 53 and 54, respectively, the contact 53 being connected with one terminal of spool 23 and the contact 54 being connected with one terminal of spool 22. The opposite terminals of both spools 22 and 23 are connected with the same terminal of battery 11 through a common conductor 55. The magnets 49 and are oppositely wound, so that if current be sent in over the line in one direction the field of force of magnet 49 will be increased and of magnet 50 will be decreased to move the armature 52 in the direction of magnet 49 and contact with 53, and if current be sent in an opposite direction the armature will be moved in an opposite direction to engage the contact 54, the magnets or poles Z and 1" being thus alternately energized to move the fingers to the left or right, according to the direction of flow of current coming in over the main line. The circuit of the battery 11 back to the armature 52 is completed through the armatures 56, 68, and 72 of the remaining relays, which said armatures are connected in series between the battery 11 and the armature 52 normally, as hereinafter described.

The relay 46 includes the two opposing polarized electromagnets 59 and 60, between which is disposed the vibratory armature 56, held normally and yieldably in engagement with a contact 61 at its free extremity and lying norm ally midway between two laterallyspaced contacts 62 and 63. The yieldable holding means for the armature are two opposing helical springs 64 and 65, and these springs 64 and 65 have such tension as to permit operative movement of the armature 56 only under the influence of a line-current of much greater intensity than that required to move the armature 52 against the tendency of its springs 52 and 53. The contact 62 is connected by wire 64 with one terminal of spool 20, and the contact 63 is connected with one terminal of spool 21, and the opposite terminals of both spools 20 and 21 are connected directly to wire and thence to battery 11. Thus if a current of minimum intensity be sent in one direction over the line to actuate magnet 49 pole rwill be energized to move the contact-fingers to the right, and if the intensity of said current be then in creased to overcome the tension of spring by energization of magnet 59 then armature 56 will be moved to engage contact 62 and from engagement with contact 61, breaking the circuit through armature 52 and cutting out spool 23 of pole r and cutting in spool 20 of pole u, when the fingers will move upwardly. The fingers will thus have moved to the right and then upwardly and will rest upon the upper right-hand points of their respective series of nine contact-points. It will be remembered that when the fingers are thus shifted the locking-armatures 35 and 41 move upwardly to hold them against return movement until the type-magnets are energized to actuate the type-bars. After the fingers have been shifted to the proper positions to engage the contacts, which include that one corresponding to the type to be struck, the circuit through the proper contact-finger must be closed from the battery 11. For this purpose the relays 47 and 4b are employed.

The relay 47 includes polarized electromagnets 66 and 67, between which is the vibratory armature 68, which rests with its free end normally against a contact 69 and midway between two laterally-spaced contacts and 71, which latter are connected with the contact-fingers 15 and 16, respectively. The armature 68 is held yieldably in its normal position by means of opposing springs 72 and 73, the tensions of which are such as to permit movement of the armature under the influence of magnets 66 and 67 only when they are energized by a current of much greater intensity than that required to move the armature 56. The magnet 66 responds to attract the armature under the influence of a current flowing in one direction, while the magnet 67 responds to attract the armature under the influence of a current of like intensity flowing in an opposite direction. Hence if after the relays 45 and 46 have been operated to properly position the contact-fingers the intensity of the current be increased magnet 66 or 67, depending upon the direction of flow of the current, will be energized to actuat-ethe armature 68 to contact with contact 70 or 71 and close the circuit of battery 11 through finger 15 or 16. This movement of armature 68 of course cuts out relays 45 and 46; but the positions of the fingers are not changed.

The fourth relay, 48, includes the armatu re 72, which lies between polarized opposing electromagnets 73 and 74, with its free extremity normally in contact with the contact IIO &

and the armature lying midway between the laterally-spaced contacts 7 6 and 77, which latter are connected with the fingers 17 and 18. The armature 72 is held yieldably in its normal position by means of the opposing springs 78 and 79, which are of such tension as to hold the armature against operative movement excepting under the influence of a current of much greater intensity than that required for moving the armature 68. As the armature 72 is operated it cuts out the preceding armatures and cuts in either the finger 17 or the finger 18, depending upon the direction of flow of the energizing-current. This cutting out of the preceding armature or armatures from the circuit of the battery 11 is permitted by reason of the fact that armature 52 is connected with the normal contactpiece 61, against which armature 56 normally rests, armature 56 is connected with contact 69, against which armature 68 normally rest-s, armature 68 is connected with the contact 75, against which armature 72 normally rests, and armature 72 is connected directly with the battery 11.

Owing to the relative values of the retaining-springs of the several armatures of the relays the current that moves armature 72 also moves the armatures of' the preceding relays; but this movement of the armature 72 cuts out the preceding armatures, so that they do not have an effective movement. This principle is continued throughout the system, and it is only when the weakest current is sent in over the line that only a single armature is moved.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by sending in currents of different intensities and in different directions the relays 45 and 46 may be actuated to shift the contact-fingers to all of their various positions, and the relays 47 and 48 may be actua ed to close the local circuit of battery 11 through any one of the contact-fingers.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings there is shown a portion of a keyboard for varying the intensities of currents sent in over the line and for varying their directions of flow, said board and the line-batteries from which the currents are drawn being illustrated in diagram.

Upon reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the two batteries comprise equal numbers of cells, one battery including the groups 80, 81, 82, and 83, and the other battery including the groups 84, 85, and 86. The groups and 84 are equal, the groups 81 and 85 are equal, and the group 86 is equal to the groups 82 and 83 together. The groups of cells of each battery are connected in series, one battery having its positive terminal to the ground and the other battery having its negative terminal to the ground.

The switchboard or keyboard consists of a conducting-plate 87, which is connected with the line-wire 88, and on this plate are mounted the several keys shown at 89, 90,

91, 92, and 93, there being in the present instance only these five keys shown, although it will of course be understood that in practice there are thirty-six keys, corresponding to the thirty-six characters to be struck and the thirty-six contact-points of the main switch or relay at central. Each of the keys consists of a post 95, upon which is mounted a helical spring and mounted slidably on the post and resting on the upper end of the spring is a sleeve 96, having a finger-piece marked with the character to be printed at the receiving-station when that key is depressed, as in the ordinary type-writer. The sleeve is of insulating material and has a laterally-projecting lug 98, the upper face of which is inclined, as shown at 99, while the lower face lies horizontally and carries a contact-piece, the several contact-pieces of the several sleeves being shown at 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105. In the path of downward movement of the contact-piece 101 is first a contact-strip 106, then a second contact-strip 107, and finally a fixed contact 108, the contact-piece 101 being adapted to engage the contact-strips and fixed contact successively by passing from one to the next. When the key 89 is released, its spring 95 raises it to its normal position with making contact of the piece 101 with the strips. It will be noted that the strip 106 is connected with the positive terminal of the group 80 of cells, which group has its negative terminal to ground, the strip 107 is connected with the positive terminal of the group 81, and that the contact 108 is connected with the positive terminal of the group 83, which is the last group of this battery. Thus as key 89 is depressed there is thrown into the line first the current from group 80 of cells, then group 81 is added, and finallygroups 82 and 83 are added. Now magnet 49 of relay 45 responds to the current from group 80, magnet 59 responds to the groups 80 and 81, magnet 66 responds to the groups 80, 81, and 82, and magnet 73 responds to the groups 80, 81, 82, and 83. By the term responds is meant that the current from their respective groups and aggregations of groups of cells serves to increase the intensities of the magnets, while effecting a demagnetization or a tendency to demagnetization of the magnets 50, 60, 67, and 74. Thus with the parts in the positions shown in Figs. land 2, which are their normal positions, and the key 89 moving downwardly, the contact 101 will first engage strip 106, sending onto'the line the current from group 80, thus energizing magnet 49 and drawing armature 52 against the contact 53, when the current from the battery 11 will be, through the several relay-armatures 72, 68, 56, and 52, to contact 53, to spool 23, to wire 55, and battery 11, thus moving the arma ture 40 to oscillate the yoke in one direction and shift the contact-fingers to the right. No current has yet flowed through any of the IIO contact-fingers, and hence no actuation of a type-magnet has yet occurred. When the contact 101 moves from strip 106, it moves to strip 107, throwing into the line the additional group 81 of cells of battery, which effects a movement of the armature 56 to the contact-point 62. This act-ion cuts out the armature 52 from the local circuit and the pole 'I' is denergized; but the locking-armature 41 has received the armature 40 in its slot 43 and the contact-fingers are held from return movement, as hereinbefore described. The current from battery 11 is then shifted from the contact 61 to the contact 62, from which the current flows through spool 20, energizing the pole u to attract the armature 33 and draw the fingers up, so that they then rest on the upper right-hand contacts 106 of their respective series or groups of nine contact points. The cont-act 101 then passes from the strip 107 to the fixed contact 108, throwing into the line all four groups 80, S1, S2, and 83 of the cells of battery, giving an intensity of current sufficient to actuate the armature 72 and move it to the contact 76, so that the current of battery 11 is to armature 72, to contact 76, to the finger 17, to the contact-point 106, on which it rests, to typemagnet 5, to spacer-magnet 14, to releasingmagnet 25, to releasing-magnet 24, to wire 55, and battery 11. The several magnets are simultaneously actuated, with the result that the type 107 is struck, the spacer mechanism is drawn down, and the armatures 41 and 35 are drawn down to release the armatures 40 and 33 to permit the springs 30 and 44 to return the contact-fingers to their normal positions. When the key 89 is released, it moves from contact 108, cutting out the battery and permitting the relays to assume their normal positions and the spacer mechanism to return to move the carriage of the type-writer one step, it being understood that the several relays 45, 46, 47, and 48 are held energized until the key rises, for the reason that they are all connected in multiple in the line. The key 90 when depressed engages its contact 102 first with a strip 110, which is connected with the negative terminal of group 84, then with a contact-strip 111, which is connected with the positive terminal of group 81, and finally with a fixed contact 112, which is connected with the outer or positive terminal of group 83. Thus as the key 90 moves downwardly first the negative group 84 (so called because the current therefrom flows through the ground and returns on the line or in a negative direction to the current from the groups of cells having their positive terminals connected to the line) is connected in the line, thus energizing magnet 50 to a degree sufficient to move armature 52 to the contact 54, the current from the battery 11 then flowing through the several armatures of relays 48, 47, 46, and 45 in series to contact 54, to spool 22,

energized, moving the contact-fingers to the left. The contact 102 next engaged strip 111,

cutting groups 80 and 81 into the line and cuttinggroup 84 out, and thus energizing mag net 59 to a degree sufficient to move armature 56 to contact 62, thus cutting spool 20 into the local circuitand energizing the pole to to raise the contact-fingers, so that they engage the contacts 13. The contact-piece 102 finally strikes the contact 112, when the whole force of the left-hand battery is cut into the line, with the result that the armature 72 is operated to cut the finger 17 into circuit with they battery 11 and therewith the contact-point 13, with which is engaged and to which contactpoint is connected the windings of magnet 6. Said magnet 6 is then energized to strike its corresponding type 13, the spacer mechanism is drawn down, and the releasing-magnets are energized to permit the fingers to return to normal.

Having now described the operation of the mechanism with three different intensities of current in the same direction and with different intensities of currents in different directions, it will be noted that key 91 brings only one intensity of current into the line. This current is furnished by the groups 80, 81, and 82 of cells. The magnet 66 responds to these three groups aggregated, and the armature 68 is operated to contact with contact 70, which is connected with finger 15. Thus when key 91 is operated the finger 15 is cut into the local circuit without shifting the positions of the fingers and current of the local battery 11 is sent through the contact-point against which finger 15 normally rests and through a type-magnet connected therewith. It will be thus seen that there are provided simple and et'ficient mechanisms for operating the several type-magnets and for actuating the spacer mechanism, and it will be noted that for the entire thirty-six characters there are used only four line-relays and one localswitch mechanism and that for operating the four line-relays there are required only four difierent intensities of current in each direction, thus permitting the use of currents of great difference in potential without using any current of exceedingly high potential. This reduces to a minimum the chances of inefiective operation in the event of a leakage or exterior disturbances, such as induction.

In practice other specific mechanisms than those shown may be used for cutting in the difierent cells and combinations of cells and different specific line-relays may be used. Other changes may also be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed isr 1. In a system of the class described, the combination with a main switch including a plurality of contacts and a finger for engagement therewith, said switch including also electromagnetic means for shifting the finger to wire 55, and battery 11. The pole 1 is thus 5 to the different contacts, of a line-relay for IIO cutting the switch-operating mechanism into a local circuit, and a second line-relay, responsive to a current of dilferent-quality, for cutting the finger into the local circuit, said local circuit having means for energizing it. 2. In a system of the class described, the combination with a main switch including a plurality of contacts, a finger for engagement therewith and electromechanical means for shifting the finger from one to another of the contacts, of a local circuit having energizing means, a line-relay for cutting the shifting means into the local circuit, a line-relay responsive to a difierent quality of current, for cutting the finger into the local circuit, and means for sending currents over the line corresponding to the relays included therein.

3. In a system of the class described, the combination with a main switch includinga plurality of contacts, a finger for engagement with the contacts interchangeably and electromechanical means for shifting the finger from one to the other of the contacts, of a local circuit having energizing means, a linerelay for cutting the shifting means into the local circuit, a line-relay responsive to a different quality of current for cutting the finger into the local circuit and cutting the shifting means out of the local circuit, and means for sending currents over theline corresponding to the relays included therein.

4 4. In a system of the class described, the combination with a main switch including a plurality of contacts, a finger for engagement with the contacts and electromechanical means for shifting the finger from one to another of the contacts, of a local circuit having energizing means, a line-relay for cutting the shifting means into the local circuit, a line-relay responsive to a different quality of current for cutting the finger into the local circuit and cutting the shifting means out of the local circuit, a locking device for holding the finger in shifted position, recording instruments in circuit between the several contact-points and the energizing means of the local circuit to be cut into the local circuit successively by the finger when engaged with their respective contacts, a releasing-magnet for the locking device, said releasing-magnet beingin the circuits of all of the recording instruments, and means for sendingcurrents of dil:'-'

ferent qualities over the line, corresponding to the different relays.

5. A system of the class described comprising a local switch including a number of contacts, a plurality of fingers each adapted to successively engage the contacts of a separate group,separate electromechanical devices for successively moving the fingers in different directions, a local battery connected with the contacts in multiple, a line-relay for cutting each of said electromechanical devices into the circuit of the local battery, said line-relays being adapted for successive operation by currents of difierent qualities, and additional line -relays operable by currents of other qualities and adapted to cut the fingers into circuit with the local battery.

6. A system of the class described comprising a local switch including a number of contacts, a plurality of fingers each adapted to successively engage the contacts of a separate group,separate electromechanical devices for successively moving the fingers in different directions, a local battery connected with the contacts in multiple, a line-relay for cutting each of said electromechanical devices into the circuit of the local battery, said line-relays being operable by currents of diiferent qualities, locking devices for holding the electromechanical devices against return movement, additional line-relays operable by currents of other qualities and adapted to cut the fingers into circuit with the local battery, an electromechanical recording device in circuit between each contact and the local battery, and releasing-magnets for the locking devices connected in series with all of the recording devices.

7 A system of the class described comprising a local switch, a local battery, said switch including contacts and fingers shiftable into engagement with their respective contacts, a recording device in circuit between each of the contacts and the local battery, electromechanical shifting devices for the fingers, separate line-relays for operating the shifting devices individually by closing them in circuit with the local battery, additional linerelays for cutting the fingers into circuit with the battery at the side thereof opposite to the connection of the contacts, said relays being operable by currents of difierent qualities, and means for sending currents of difierent qualities over the line.

8. Aswitch for a system of the class described comprising a supporting-bar having a plurality of fingers mounted thereon, a plurality of contacts disposed for successive contact by their respective fingers, said bar being shiftable in directions at right angles to each other, and electromechanical devices for shifting the bar.

- 9. A switch for a system of the class described comprising a pivoted yoke having an armature connected therewith, magnets disposed in operative relation to the armature to oscillate the yoke when alternately energized, a supporting-bar carrying contact-fingers, a stem for the bar slidably mounted in the yoke and having means for holding it yieldably in normal position, an armature connected with said stem, electromagnets disposed in operative relation to the armature to actuate it to reciprocate the stem when the magnets are alternately energized, and contacts for engagement by the fingers.

10. A switch for a system of the class described comprisinga pivoted member having an armature connected therewith, electromagnets disposed in operative relation to the armature to oscillate the pivoted member when alternately energized, a supporting-bar carrying contact-fingers and having slidable connection with the pivoted member, an armature connected With the bar, electromagnets disposed in operative relation to the second armature to reciprocate the bar, locking devices for the armatnres for holding them in their shifted positions, releasing devices for the locking devices, and contacts for suc- 1o cessive engagement by the fingers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK D. PEARNE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. PEARNE, HENRY E. MILLER. 

